I believe most fans are well aware of the unfortunate and very rare gate incident from Wednesday at Happy Valley. The starting gate involved was just commissioned into service this season, and it shared a slightly different structure from other models which are also used.
It was our tracks team’s usual practice to place the rakes next to the gates, as they can be used to manicure the turf around the barriers and the wheel marks left behind after they are moved. But unfortunately one of the rakes jammed the barrier opening mechanism, causing a non-simultaneous opening of the barriers. Accordingly we conducted an inquiry into the incident and declared the race be voided, with bets refunded to all. Per the long standing betting rules which account for extraordinary scenarios, all single race bets on the event were refunded, consolation payments were made for some others such as the doubles, and as the rules dictate, all jackpots carryover – which is the case for the triple trio and six up.
The incident should not have happened and created a significant inconvenience and disappointment to our customers, but I feel holding the tracks staff as the only one accountable would not be fair, especially given that they have always been very diligent in their duties. Having said that, we certainly are most aware of the great inconvenience this caused and a full inquiry is underway by the related departments to ensure it does not happen again.
On the same day, we also announced the list of nominated horses for our LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 11 December. Again this year we have plenty of quality in our list. Not only do the nominations include all four race winners from 2015, but there are also strong interests expressed from the Coolmore camp and various connections from Japan. Quite a number of star European runners who delivered exceptional performances in major events on the continent this season, are also holding entries.
Add in our cracking top runners from home and anticipation of our annual showcase international event is already quite high. I shall continue to follow related news from overseas as the HKIR approaches.
Following today’s simulcast of Victoria Derby day, tomorrow we shall have more on offer from Tokyo, as we host the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn where two of our HKIR winners last year – Maurice and A Shin Hikari – as well as other really nice horses such as Real Steel and Lovely Day – are all in for this utterly exciting race.
Please remember our races will again be held at Happy Valley tomorrow, with the first race starting 15 minutes earlier, at 12.45pm. The seventh race is the Hong Kong Golf Club Centenary Cup, a Class 2 handicap over 1650m of the A course, and it has drawn a field of 12. This is a diverse field from a pace standpoint, and the presence of Precision King, drawing in off the reserve list, should certify a solid early tempo. Travel First, Little Dragon and Ultimate Glory are likely to be in good tracking positions along with Superoi and Joyful Moments behind. Land Grant is at risk of a wide trip from his barrier and Winston’s Lad is likely to be wide too. Pikachu likes to run on from well off the pace.
Pikachu is winless going back to February 2015 but seems to have started his season well with two placings from some challenging trips. He will settle off the pace again, surely, but with Joao Moreira onboard and a good pace which should suit his style, plus racing on the A course, is my first choice in this race. Ultimate Glory is a unique horse in that he has been successful at Happy Valley in the past, but his manners while racing under the lights have been quite bad – so much so that he is not permitted to race under the lights. He gets a chance back at our city track on Sunday at the only daytime meeting of the year there and could sit a nice trip behind a good pace. He is one of the main placing chances. Superoi has been in the placings 10 times from 17 tries at Happy Valley and is working well for his seasonal return. Both he and Land Grant are place hopes, but Land Grant will have to manage a wide trip. He did well here last year off a wide draw on the C+3 course.
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